Herbs perennial, 20-26 cm high, glabrous. Rhizomes with many pale yellow, fibrous roots. Stems erect, 1 or several in a fascicle, with 6 or 7 conspicuous nodes; internodes 0.6-3.5 cm, basal nodes with 1 pair of scalelike leaves. Scalelike leaves opposite, ovate, membranous, late deciduous. Leaves opposite, 6 on apical part of stems; stipules subulate; petiole 1-2 cm; leaf blade oblong or broadly elliptic, 5-8 × 3-5.5 cm, papery, glandular mucronate, base broadly cuneate to obtuse, margin serrate, apex acute; lateral veins 5-7 pairs. Spikes at stem apex, dichotomously branched or unbranched, 2.8-4 cm with peduncles; bracts ovate. Flowers white. Stamens 3, basal 3/4 connate, on outside of apical part of ovary; connectives oblong; central connective ca. 2 mm, nearly as long as lateral connectives or slightly longer, with a 2-loculed anther; lateral connectives with a 1(or 2)-loculed anther each; thecae at middle of connectives. Pistil with gynophore 4-7 mm; ovary ovoid; style absent; stigma capitate. Fruit unknown. Fl. May-Jun.
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